Space People

In March, I had the pleasure of working a NOLS course with NASA astronauts and flight directors. (NASA has been sending astronauts to NOLS for decades, after finding that the expedition behavior necessary for a successful mission is exactly the same as what’s necessary for a successful wilderness expedition.) The small group of NASA people were so interesting, competent and fun that I did not want our time in the wilderness to end. I had never spent time with a group of space professionals, and in some ways, I felt like I was home. I don’t think I’ve laughed as much in a week in a long time. We had some fun canyoneering complete with rappels, cold water swims, warm days, cold nights, headlamp hikes and star lessons. I miss them dearly but know that sometime, I’ll see them all again.

Last summer, I worked a NOLS course with private astronauts.  Their mission: to be the first private astronaut crew to go to the International Space Station.  In the Talkeetna mountains, we had a wonderful time.  At the end of the course, they invited us to the launch.  Last week, after many more months of training and delays, they launched off the planet.

I have never been to a launch before.  I wish I had seen a space shuttle launch but somehow, I never made it happen.  We watched from the bleachers, 3 miles away.  On one launch tower stood the Space Launch System, or SLS, testing for an uncrewed moon launch later on this summer.  On the other, a SpaceX dragon capsule with my friends, poised and ready for their flight to space. 

The other instructor and I were there early, eager to sit, wait and watch the pre-launch commentary and to soak it all in.  Every few minutes, we’d turn to each other and just shake our heads.  How incredible – they were going to space.  The six of us bonded in the back country, now four of us were on a rocket, the other two watching.  Yes, I’d have loved to be on that rocket, but there was no more seats.  I was, and am, grateful that four of us got to go.  We figured of the audience, maybe some know an individual better than we did.  But probably no one had spent the time we did with the crew in such a unique setting.  No phones, no regular clothes, no real schedules.  Just us, carrying our homes on our back, talking space, talking life. 

The long wait was over, the clock hit zero.  Without a sound, we could see the exhaust start to build around the tower – and then the rocket took off.  Up and up on a flame too bright to look at even with sunglasses.  It was incredible to see the rocket take off into the sky.  But even more incredible to know our four friends are together and climbing towards their dreams!  It’s really happening – like a wave of relief of finally having made it to the critical point and flying through it, it seemed impossible not to be overtaken with the emotion of it all.  I felt like I was with them. 

Higher and higher, faster and faster, farther and farther away.  They were doing it.  I am overjoyed for them.  At least if I cannot go to space yet, my friends are going.  How incredible, words fail to convey the emotion of the moment and the continuing moments of knowing they are now in space.  The following morning, we watched them dock and then enter the space station!  Again, we were filled with emotion.  There they were, awkward fliers like every new astronaut.  But we could see the smiles on their faces, listen to them on the radio during the formal periods and we could imagine their banter.  Incredible as ever.  I so look forward to following their progress this week in space.  Eternally grateful to have spent a week in the mountains with this crew and my coinstuctor.

Next up: to Panama to sail 3800 nautical miles to the Marquesas Islands with one of my Crazy Horse sailing friends, his wife, three kids and one other guy. We expect around 25 days at sea! Celestial navigation equipment is ready, I can’t wait.

In other news, I am reprinting Spacewalk Tree Service tee shirts. (This was my tree business before I taught high school.) They are available at https://www.bonfire.com/spacewalk-tree-service-tees/ for 21 days.

And it is with a heavy heart that long time blog reader and friend, Patty, will not be reading this one. She has passed on to new adventures and will be dearly missed by me, my mother and many other friends and family. Thank you, Patty, we miss you already.